User Interview: mcbain10

Q&A with mcbain10

When it comes to Hardball Dynasty, mcbain10 truly puts the emphasis on Dynasty. His Wichita Warriors in the Hornsby world have won 30 consecutive division titles and have played in the Fall Classic 18 times, a run of success that would make even the New York Yankees jealous. We caught up with mcbain10 to talk about his winning formula.

mcbain10: A married father of two who begrudgingly works full time. Other than that, pretty much just an idiot who spends way too much time on your site.

WIS: How did you find out about WhatIfSports.com?

mcbain10: I wish I remembered, but I know I played Strat-O-Matic online baseball at first, and loved it. Somehow I found out about WIS and the rest is history, I was hooked and eventually left Strat behind. I'm pretty sure HBD did not exist yet, so I played sim baseball until HBD arrived.

WIS: Which of our games have you played? Which do you prefer?

mcbain10: I'm pretty much a mini-baseball junkie, so I've played the sim baseball and then HBD. But I also tried Gridiron Dynasty and Hoops Dynasty and had a good run with them. Recruiting was too tough for me though, I never really figured it out. As my free time has dwindled, I've focused on HBD - simply a great game.

WIS: What are some of your interests and hobbies?

mcbain10: Besides watching baseball and visiting your site? I do enjoy time with my kids (ages 4 and 5), they're pretty cute when they're not fighting. Also, I'll read the occasional book and see a movie, pretty boring stuff. Is sleeping a hobby? I like sleep.

Will Ferrell would be among the honored guests at mcbain10's dream roundtable discussion.

WIS: Which five people, past or present, sit at your dream roundtable discussion?

mcbain10: Hmm, just 5 people I would love to meet and hang out with would be (in no particular order): Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Jerry Seinfeld, Dennis Eckersley, George Brett, and the Bambino. (I cheated and put 6, sorry.)

WIS: Did you play any sports growing up?

mcbain10: I did, played city baseball through high school - otherwise, just played after school every day whatever sport was in season. Wasn't very good at anything but loved to play.

WIS: Who are your favorite all-time players?

mcbain10: I guess above gives it away a little in that I loved the Eck and George Brett. But the Red Sox are my team so I have to say I loved Jim Rice back in the day, he seemed to always go deep when I went to Fenway. Pedro was no slouch either - I'll never forget his masterpiece in Sept 1999 at Yankee Stadium.

WIS: Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done?

mcbain10: I don't really think in terms of a bucket list, but just standing on the field at Fenway during BP is something I want to do. Would love to shag but I'd probably get killed out there.

WIS: What is your favorite WIS moment?

mcbain10: Tough to single out just one, but winning my first title in HBD was a long time coming. I believe the team was called "Boston Red Sox" and if I'm not mistaken they won Game 7 of the WS to take home the beautiful trophy.

WIS: With the Wichita Warriors in the Hornsby world, you've achieved 30 consecutive division titles, topped 100 wins 27 times, appeared in 18 World Series and brought home 12 championships. How have you managed such a high level of sustained success?

mcbain10: Mostly luck and persistence. I was with that team since season one and I got gifted the #1 draft pick which turned out to be SP Walker Mays, who was just a Pedro-esque stud. He carried me through the beginning when I learned through some bad trades how to play the game (I traded Hall of Famer Max Molina for a song). Then later on I signed an international SP named Del Tanaka for cheap (~$20MM is cheap to me), and he was even better than Mays. That pitching made the game a lot easier. Other than that I just pay attention to all the off-season stuff and try to make my team as strong as possible. But it did take time, looking back I had some very good teams in seasons 5-11 that averaged 111 wins and I never could win it all. I was pretty much snake bitten and was wondering why I even was playing the game. Then once I finally broke the ice in season 12, things have gone pretty well ever since I guess.

WIS: Your Pawtucket Paw Sox in the Johnny5Bench world have only five World Series appearances and two championships spread across 25 seasons. What's different about the Sox that's made the team less consistent than the Warriors?

mcbain10: No Walker Mays or Del Tanaka! They should have sat at my fictional roundtable. But otherwise this was a very good team for about 17 seasons, but then my core got old and I was probably late to rebuild, and it has taken some time to get some good talent back in the pipeline. It's been fun though, great league with some very strong owners. I finally have some SP's to build on, now I just need some bats so I don't lose every game 2-0.

WIS: You've been with the Warriors and Paw Sox since the beginning of each world, but you've only been with the Montreal Bruins of the Stickball world since season 21 (currently in season 30). How did you select the Bruins and what's kept you there?

mcbain10: mr_stickball is in Hornsby and I've always really respected him, so I joined knowing the world must be solid. Plus plague was the previous owner and I know he was really good, so I knew he took care of his team. And I tend to get hooked easily and be pretty loyal, so I've stayed. It always helps when you have a franchise player and the Bruins have one in Placido Pelaez. But this team has no playoff luck, look at their history. Some good teams but only one WS appearance.

WIS: What is your strategy for allocating your budget?

mcbain10: It depends on the team, veteran team that is trying to win now I go as close to zero as I can in all the advanced scouting, but stay strong on coaching and training and medical. The other direction, which is probably more fun, is to keep a lower player payroll and try to snatch an international and put some budget dollars there and prospect payroll.

WIS: What do you believe are the most important individual player ratings for performance?

mcbain10: For pitchers for me it is the splits and control. For hitters it's probably the splits and the eye.

Carlos Diaz of the Wichita Warriors possessed a Rickey Henderson-like combination of speed and power.

WIS: Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?

mcbain10: As previously gushed about, I'll never forget Walker Mays and Del Tanaka, as pathetic as that sounds. Basically anyone past or present on Wichita, Carlos Diaz comes to mind as a Rickey Henderson type who had some 50-50 seasons (in season 12 he went 59 HR - 122 SB and scored 189 runs!). Also 1B/DH Ahmad Simpson had a big game I think from my first title team.

WIS: How much time do you spend on your Hardball Dynasty teams? How much do you think is necessary to be competitive?

mcbain10: Way too much but a lot less than I used to. I try to put in about 5-10 minutes on each team for every game cycle to go through the play-by-play and adjust my lineup and/or pitching staff. So I guess that's 15-30 minutes per day per team. Probably doesn't take that long in season, you could do half of that. In the off-season you probably need it during FA and coaching hires.

WIS: If you were to give one piece of advice to a new user, what would it be?

mcbain10: Have fun, but make sure you have some time to commit as it does require some time to learn the game and enjoy it. It's not a fantasy baseball team that drafts itself and you can check on once or twice a week. I personally would say not to trade right away but I know some people love that aspect of it.

WIS: What is your favorite aspect of Hardball Dynasty?

mcbain10: Signing a big international. I like managing the grind of the 162 game season. Winning in the playoffs is always fun.

WIS: Least favorite?

mcbain10: Losing in the playoffs. Coach hiring is tough, especially the fielding coach drives me crazy due to lack of supply. The draft is not fun - seems the talent has dried up in recent seasons. Of course if you have the #1 pick and a 20 in scouting, it's probably a bit more enjoyable.

WIS: What is your early opinion of the most recent updates to Hardball Dynasty?

mcbain10: Haven't seen enough to have a strong opinion, but I do like the change to internationals salary demands. A $50,000 guy could be a stud, so you actually need to look beyond that number.

WIS: What is one feature you want to see implemented in a future update?

mcbain10: I've always wanted the ability to play live. I wouldn't have the time to play that I previously did in a former life, but still the idea of being able to control pitching changes, pinch hitting especially in the NL, that would be cool. I played live with the sim baseball a while back and that was a lot of fun.

WIS: Who are the users you respect and/or enjoy the most?

mcbain10: mr_stickball and plague, as mentioned earlier, lot of respect there. hopkinsheel was a very good commish in several of the worlds for me, the absolute best at rolling quickly. sportsguy93 has been along for the ride in Hornsby and stickball, lot of respect for him. jc44 had some rotten luck in Hornsby but is a great owner. Also have to give props in Hornsby to oriolemagic and seattleace for some great runs of success in the AL over there and for their loyalty to the league. I'm sure I'm leaving some owners out, sorry guys.

WIS: If you were in one of our games, what sport would you play, at what position, and what would you be rated?

mcbain10: It would be baseball, lefty pitcher with a looping slow curve and Frank Viola circle change with about 15 velocity and pitches ranked 50-20-30 (I'm being generous). So I'd be rookie league fodder, rated about 43. As a hitter, lefty 1B with decent glove back in the day, decent bat, no power. Decent speed. Pretty much High A - AA player rated about 54. Drafted in 22nd round.

WIS: We thank mcbain10 for sharing with the WhatIfSports.com community.